By Fernando Z López / Photography courtesy of Creating Change

The National LGBTQ Task Force is the oldest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in the United States. Known as “the LGBTQ voice of the progressive movement and the progressive voice of the LGBTQ movement,” The Task Force bridges grassroots activism and national advocacy, connects funders with innovative strategic leaders, and works tirelessly to build power, inspire action, and create transformative change. For 51 years, the Task Force has mobilized voters, built up local community organizers, incubated countless organizations, and transformed policy at the regional and federal levels. Nowhere is this work more prominent than in the organization’s and LGBTQ movement’s annual gathering, the Creating Change Conference. Given the current political climate, the conference is more important than ever.

What is Creating Change?

Creating Change has been called many things; a homecoming, a sanctuary, a space to reframe and recharge, a place to find the wisdom and motivation for the road ahead, and a training ground for LGBTQ+ activists across the United States and beyond. Since its inception over 37 years ago, Creating Change has become a cornerstone of the LGBTQ+ movement, uniting thousands each year in a shared commitment to justice, equity, and intersectional liberation. It is a place where The Task Force brings together strategy, research, and community action, in a space designed to foster intergenerational and lateral mentorship to equip both seasoned leaders and emerging activists with the skills and inspiration needed to drive real change.

The Spirit of Radical Welcome

Coming from all across the country, attendees are over 60% people of color and over 50% trans and nonbinary. Creating Change centers inclusivity through the principle of “Radical Welcome.” Attendees are invited to embrace a spirit of love, curiosity, and mutual respect for the diverse spectrum of identities represented at the conference. This isn’t just about learning—it’s about building lasting connections, creating a safe environment, and holding space for honest, sometimes challenging, conversations. The volunteers and staff who make Creating Change a reality each year operate with Radical Welcome at their core, welcoming attendees from around the globe and encouraging participants to suspend their biases and envision a world where all LGBTQ+ people can thrive.

For nearly a year, the Task Force has been working on the ground in Nevada to learn from and engage a network of local Ambassadors and volunteers who bring the event to life. Ambassadors act as educators, ensuring the Task Force learns about local community needs so the organization can work to bridge gaps and build up local organizational capacity. Ambassadors also act as local hosts, embodying the spirit of Radical Welcome by assisting with identifying local LGBTQ supportive spaces, guiding attendees, and offering resources on community culture and history.

Moments of Wisdom and Collective Inspiration

From the opening of the conference on Wednesday, January 22 through its closing, the four plenaries at Creating Change are more than just discussions, they are dynamic, thought-provoking experiences that set the tone for the movement ahead. This year’s lineup invites you to dive deep into the heart of the issues shaping our community. 2025’s first plenary will uplift the transformative power of Black LGBTQ+ leadership and its role in advancing cultural and political liberation. The second plenary will confront the urgent threats to democracy and the rise of fascism while offering bold strategies for building a multi-ethnic nation and combating political violence. The annual State of the Movement with Kierra Johnson will provide a candid look at our progress and challenges, while the final plenary Safety & Security: Trans Power Across Movements centers trans leadership in critical advocacy areas like youth rights and criminal justice reform as they envision what safety looks like in our new political and cultural reality.

Day-Long Institutes: Deep Dives into Justice and Advocacy

Creating Change Institutes are immersive, day-long sessions where attendees can explore specific issues in-depth while connecting local and national leaders to amplify each other’s wisdom and work. These institutes reflect the diversity within the movement, each focusing on an aspect of identity, affinity, advocacy, or sectoral knowledge critical to the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ justice.

Racial justice institutes on Wednesday will bring together participants in spaces like the Indigenous Institute, Latine Institute, Black Institute, Faith & Reparations Institute, and more to examine the work of and hold space for the intersection of race, gender, and sexual orientation.

On Thursday, sector and affinity institutes such as the Trans Institute, Youth Leadership Institute, Bi+ Institute, Queer Climate Justice Institute, CEO & ED Institute, and Digital Media Strategy Institute will provide targeted insights and tools tailored to unique intersectional leadership experiences.

New this year, attendees can engage in additional day-long institutes on Thursday and Friday to explore vital topics like queering philanthropy, combating political violence, and advancing field organizing strategies. Strategically timed to maximize accessibility, these sessions ensure that the LGBTQ+ movement continues to build momentum and address the urgent needs of this critical moment in history.

Famous Foods Street Eats

Reminiscent of the famed Singapore street eats this is a primarily Asian food hall. In fact, diners can feast on everything from Hainanese chicken rice recipe that dates to 1979, or enjoy clay pots from the only Filipino restaurant on the Strip. Never fear, that sweet tooth is sure to be delighted at Sweet Eats featuring everything from a massive serving of shaved ice to candied apples and signature treats.

Workshops & Caucuses

This year The Task Force received nearly 600 proposals for workshops and caucuses. A national review team then had the difficult job of identifying a diversity of offerings for the approximately 150 available session blocks. The workshops at Creating Change offer a vast array of learning opportunities, with tracks ranging from health and wellness to philanthropy, sex and desire, marketing, advocacy and policy, cultural organizing, and more.

Through programmed caucuses and informal affinity spaces, participants gather based on shared identities or lived experiences. Caucuses allow attendees to engage in deep, meaningful conversations around common struggles and hopes, building bonds of solidarity and support within the larger framework of the conference. In the open affinity spaces, conference goers can self-organize, network, or just relax and work in a space of common ground.

These sessions and spaces welcome attendees at every level, from newcomers exploring their identities and roles in the movement to established advocates honing specialized skills and uplifting the next generation. This breadth ensures a rich, diverse experience, where participants can learn, network, and leave equipped with actionable insights to bring back to their communities at home.

Wellness, Healing, & Justice

The fight for LGBTQ+ justice can also be heavy and exhausting. That’s why Creating Change is committed to holistic wellness, recognizing that sustainable advocacy requires care, rest, and joy. Healing is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.

Throughout the conference, attendees will find intentional spaces and services designed to recharge the mind, body, and spirit. The Art Space Studio invites creativity and reflection, while the Gayme Room offers playful escape and connection.

For those seeking direct resources, the expanded exhibit hall will feature services and a diversity of organizations tailored to the community’s needs, an accessibility team is on deck to support equitable access, and the Care Bear team is always around to help you navigate difficult moments and our array of services. The Lo-Fi Room provides a quiet refuge for those needing sensory rest. The Many Paths Gathering Space supports diverse faith experiences, fostering connections across spiritual traditions and beliefs.

Celebrating Queer Joy: A Radical Act of Resistance

Queer joy is more than a celebration, it is resistance. This radical truth is honored through vibrant, community-centered events that light up the conference.

From the Opening Cruise on Wednesday to the Epic Variety Show on Thursday, and Kierra’s Kabaret on Saturday, these moments remind us of the beauty and resilience within our movement. You can’t miss Friday’s signature event the House Ball which brings found family, dance, and performance together, reinforcing solidarity through shared experiences.

By integrating healing and joy, the conference ensures attendees leave inspired and recharged. In a time when our communities are under attack, radical care and revelry are as vital as organizing. Together, we heal, celebrate, and move forward, proving justice is inseparable from the joy of living authentically.

Join the Movement

50% of Creating Change’s budget is dedicated to equity and access. From meal assistance to language justice, and mobility support to financial aid, The Task Force put its values into action thanks to the support of volunteers, donors, and sponsors who ensure we can remove barriers to access.

In 2025 the Creating Change Conference will start just two days after the Presidential Inauguration and we know what’s on the line for the LGBTQ community across this country. Whether this is your first Creating Change or you’ve been coming since the beginning, your donations, your volunteerism, your attendance and your collaboration are needed now more than ever.

As Las Vegas opens its arms to Creating Change, January 22-26, 2025, at The Rio Hotel & Casino you’re invited to be part of a movement that builds on decades of activism and sets the stage for a more just and inclusive future. Whether you’re a seasoned activist, a community leader, or a newcomer, your voice matters here. Together, let’s build a world rooted in resistance, power, and love.

To learn more about the conference and register head to CreatingChange.org

This article was originally published in the 2024 Winter Issue of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine, and can be read in its original format here.